Versatile display apparatus



May 4, 1965 c. .ZENOUR 3,181,274

VERSA'I'ILE DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Aug. 14, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 MFIG.2 f6

71 W M1 171 3 \l 1' 11,4 llll 4 I :7 r I l c w mun 1/ W111. \W I 14INVENTOR. GEORGE c. IZENOUR l HUI l BY M a 577M;

ATTORNEY y 4, 1965 G. c. IZENOUR 3,181,274

VERSATILE DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Aug. 14, 19 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 22 36FIGLS 34 I ll I 1 INVENTOR. GEORGE C- IZENOUR ATTORNEY United StatesPatent 3,181,274 VERSATKLE DISPLAY APPARATUS George C. Izenour, 10Alston Ave, New Haven, Conn. Filed Aug. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 131,366 11Claims. (Cl. -24) The present invention relates to apparatus forsuspending and illuminating panels, this apparatus being particularlyuseful for exhibiting paintings and other pictures, and for displayingstage scenery.

Such apparatus is useful in museums, for example. It is often desirableto group related paintings in an exhibit, and similarly to unify othergroups of exhibits. As exhibits change in size and composition, so alsoit becomes desirable to rearrange and regroup the walls on which thepictures in the exhibits are hung. The walls can be constructed in amanner enabling them to be taken down and rearranged to suit variousgroupings of pictures in successive exhibits. However, dismantling onewall arrangement and erecting another takes time, it involves asubstantial amount of labor, and it defaces the floor.

A feature of the present invention resides in a novel modular ceilingstructure and a cooperating form of panel-suspending bogey that enablefast and easy arrangement and rearrangement of suspended panels on whichpictures and the like may be exhibited. A related feature of thisinvention resides in the provision of a display-panel suspending ceilingof flexible application which integrates similarly flexible lightingunits. Such apparatus also has readily recognizable application to thestage, where versatile supporting and lighting apparatus for sceneryflats is desirable, especially where the apparatus is suitable forfrequent and rapid rearrange ment.

A specific object of this invention resides in providing a novel form ofceiling construction that incorporates tracks for scenery-suspendingbogeys; and a related object resides in novel bogeys that are of simpleyet highly effective construction to facilitate smooth and easy movementof bogeys along the ceiling tracks. A related object resides in theintegration of flexibly located lighting units in such modular-trackceiling.

As will be seen from the accompanying drawings and the detaileddescription below of the illustrative embodiment of the invention, shownin the drawings, a feature of the present invention is the novelintegration in a ceiling of modular tracks for suspension bogeys andguide-tracks for lighting trucks, so that both the suspended panels andthe lights can be readily regrouped and rearranged, correspondingly, foreach new stage set or for each new exhibition layout.

The illustrative embodiment in the drawings involves a modular ceilingthat is made up of a number of crossed rows of frames that form crossedtracks where adjacent frames confront but are spaced from each other.The frames are united by rails that serve as tracks for lighting trucksabove the ceiling; and the frames provide openings through which lightmay be directed to the panels suspended below the ceiling. Lightingunits on trucks above the ceiling may also be suspended below theceiling through the frame openings. Panels and the like are suspended byrods attached to bogeys in the ceiling tracks.

Bogey is a term used here to refer to a free-riding support that travelsalong overhead tracks and is well adapted to change direction, asrequired, from one track to another intersecting track. An importantobject of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and highlyeffective bogey. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, looking upward, of a ice portion of aceiling and suspended panels, embodying certain features of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspectvie view of a portion of the ceiling of FIG. 1,drawn to larger scale and looking downward;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view, looking downward, of a section of the ceilingin FIG. 1, including a lighting-unit truck and embodying furtherfeatures of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, drawn to largerscale, the lighting truck being shown in a different adjusted position;

FIG. 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3, drawn to larger scale;and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical cross-section through one of the bogeysand a ceiling detail in FIG. 1 along the line 6-6.

In the drawings, the ceiling is made up of a large number of frames inhaving upper flanges 1th: and lower flanges 10b connected by Verticalwebs ltic. Parallel beams 14 of inverted T-shaped section are Weldedalong the upper webs 10a of every opposed row or alternate opposed rowsof frames 10 (note FIG. 3) and these beams are carried by cables 1'6extending from supporting structure not shown. For example, the verticalwebs 14a of the beams 14 may be on 48-inch centers, for frames that arenominally 24 inches square. A gap of one inch is allowed between allopposed edges of flanges 10b, in an example, and the corners of thoseflanges are rounded at a radius of one inch.

Between a pair of beams 14 that are welded at a oneframe spacing, thereis a catwalk 20 of expanded metal resting on the frames It).

Between anotherpair of beams 14 in FIG. 3, there is a lighting truck 22that spans two frames 1%, shown also in FIGS. 4 and 5. Where two-frameseparation of the beams occurs, the frames 10 are supported further byangle-iron parts 24- whose edges are welded to the flanges 16a of fourframes 10, in confronting pairs.

Lighting unit 24 includes a pair of triangular end frames 2%, welded toa horizontal member 28, as of 1 /2 pipe. Four casters 3t) at the cornersof the unit 24 ride along the horizontal webs of beams 14. A pair oflocking screws 32 are threaded into brackets 34 at the bottom of eachframe 26 and bear outward against respective vertical flanges 14a ofbeams 14-.

Fittings 36 are provided in bar 28. Each fitting is centered above arespective frame 16 (FIG. 5) and has 1 a vertical bore 36a in which ashaft 38 is slidably received.

Locking screw 4i) in fitting 38 seizes shaft 33 to retain it in anydesirable adjusted position. A lamp house 42 is carried by shaft 38, ofproportions to be lowered through frames 10 if so desired, remainingsuspended on shaft 38. Lamp house 42 has all the details of constructionneeded for aiming it in any. desired direction in a vertical plane, andhorizontal adjustment is aflorded by rotating shaft 38 in fitting 35.

In FIG. 1, the ceiling is shown as supporting a pair of panels 46. Eachpanel is fastened to a pair of closely spaced parallel sheet-metal parts48 which, in turn, are united to shafts 5d. As best seen in FIG. 6,shafts 53 form part of a bogey that affords readily movable support forthe panels supported thereby. Shaft 50 has an upper reduced portion 50aaffording a shoulder 52. Discs 54, 54a, 56 and sleeve 62 are disposed onshaft portion Stia. A retaining ring 69 fits in a groove in shaftportion 56a and overlies part of disc 52. Sleeve 62 separates discs 54and 54a and transmits the load from shaft 5t retaining ring 6% and disc54a to bearing units comprising large balls 66 contained in cases 68 andhaving a ball-bearing unit use above ball 66.

Discs 52 and $4 are held in assembly to each other by screws 54, onlyone of which is shown. The case or pocket 68 is in the form of a hollowcupped piece that opens downward to expose ball 66, and has aconstricted ball-retaining lip 68a. Pocket 68 also has an outwardretaining flange 68b, that is gripped between discs 54 and 56.

Screws 64 hold cover plate 70 (below disc 56) against a felt part 72.Suitable openings in felt 72 expose balls 66 but exclude dirt. Sixball-and-pocket units 66, 68 are included in a highly successful form ofbogey. This appears to be a minimum. A larger number of units 66, 68 maybe used, but the balls 66 would tend to become smaller and large ballsare preferable.

Panels 46 can be moved easily from place to place merely by pulling themto the desired positions. As shown in FIG. 1, two of the bogeys in FIG.6 can be used to support a panel parallel to one track defined by thespaced flanges 10b of frames 10, or two bogeys may occupy different,intersecting tracks, where the panel is to hang at an angle to thetracks. During travel of the bogeys along the tracks, ball-units 66, 68ride on flanges 19b of confronting frames 10, while discs 54, 54a and 56roll easily when engaging either flange 100. There is a small clearancebetween these discs and webs 10c, and a larger clearance is allowedbetween shaft 50 and the edges of flanges 10b. By virtue of theforegoing construction, the bogeys described provide excellent supportand easy adjustment for panels 46.

46. The trucks may be locked in place by screws 32 bearing againstflanges 14a, and may assume a position over confronting flanges of twoframes 10 (FIG. 4) or over an opening in a frame (FIGS. 3 and as may besuitable for directing the light beam down through a frame opening; orthe lighting unit 42 may be lowered bodily on its supporting shaft 38into or through one of the frames 10.

Discs S4 and 56 are separate elements so as to grip the flanges 68b ofthe ball-and-socket elements 66, 68; but discs 54 and 56 may be treatedas one. The latter composite disc and disc 54a are vertically spacedapart and of equal diameter. This limits the tilt of panel-suspendingrod 50, and tends to stabilize the panels; and it also facilitates thejob of relocating the panels, which on occasion can only be grasped at apoint well below the level of the bogeys and tracks. If any difficultyshould develop in this respect, catwalks 20 make it an easy matter toreach through any frame opening to grasp any rod 50 right at the ceilinglevel for applying effective effort in freeing the bogey.

Flanges 1% have generally straight edges, but the corners are roundedfor assured clearance from rod 50 as any bogey is shifted from onetrack, around a corner, to an intersecting track.

The foregoing is an illustrative embodiment of the invention which hasbeen described in detail, is highly successful and is presentlypreferred. However, it is apparent that those skilled in the art mayreadily make substitutions and modifications, and may variously applythe novel features in this particular embodiment. Consequently, theinvention should be broadly construed, consistent with the spirit andscope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Display apparatus including a ceiling structure and means foradjustably suspending panels therefrom, said ceiling structure includinga rectangular matrix of open frames each frame having four sides, eachsaid side including a vertical opening-forming web and a horizontalflange that extends from the lower edge of the web outward relative tothe frame of which it is a part, the flanges of the sides of all saidframes being coplanar and each said flange being spaced from theconfronting flange of a juxtaposed side of the adjacent frame in thematrix by a limited, uniform separation, and panel-supporting bogeysbetween the confronting webs of the juxtaposed sides of adjacent frames,each bogey including a suspension member extending through the spacebetween confronting flanges, vertical-axis vertically spaced discsrotatably se cured to said suspension member and having circular edgesadapted to bear against the confronting webs of said frames, thejuxtaposed sides of adjacent suspension member being coaxial with saiddisc, and the lowermost disc of each bogey having at least sixsupporting balls that bear on the upper surfaces of said flanges.

2. Display apparatus for adjustably supporting depending objects,including a ceiling having intersecting tracks defined by confrontingvertical webs and mutually spaced horizontal coplanar flanges, andpanel-supporting bogeys each including a pair of vertically separateddiscs having a common vertical axis, said discs being disposed betweenconfronting webs, at least six load-bearing bells in ball retainingmeans in one of said discs directed down and bearing against saidflanges, and an object-suspending member depending coaxially from saiddiscs through the space between the flanges forming said intersectingtracks, said discs being rotatably secured to said panel-suspendingmember and having less clearance from said webs than the clearancebetween said panel-suspending member and said flanges.

3. Display apparatus including a ceiling structure incorporating crossedsuspension bogey tracks and openings framed by said tracks through whichlighting units may operate, said bogey tracks including paired flangesextending along two mutually crossing groups of lines in a horizontalplane, each pair of flanges being closely and uniformly spaced apart,and webs upstanding from the respective flanges and spaced apart fartherthan the corresponding pair of flanges, said ceiling having successiveparallel structural beams united to the tops of and supporting saidbogey tracks and extending along respective bogey tracks, said beamsconstituting lighting-truck tracks, trucks on said tracks and lightingunits adjustably carried thereby over said openings, said trucksincluding means adjustable to support the lighting units selectivelyabove or below said crossed bogey tracks, and panel-supporting bogeyhaving antifriction load support means in said tracks and suspensionmembers depending through said bogey tracks.

4. A ceiling structure for supporting lighting trucks andscenery-carrying bogies, said ceiling structure including crossed rowsof horizontally aligned individual sheet-metal frames, the sides of eachframe having a vertical web defining a frame opening and each framehaving a horizontal bottom flange that extends outward relative to theframe, the edges of the flanges of each frame being uniformly spacedfrom the edges of confronting flanges of adjacent frames and beingcoplanar therewith, said webs and said flanges of juxtaposed sides ofadjacent frames defining intersecting bogey tracks, and means includinga succession of parallel beams uniting said frames with the flangesthereof spaced as aforesaid and said beams being secured to the uppersides of said frames, said beams having upper rail portions for wheelsof lighting trucks.

5. A ceiling structure including a pattern of individual rectangularframes, each frame having outwardly extending flanges aligned with thecorresponding flanges of all the other frames in a horizontal plane, theconfronting edges of the flanges of adjacent frames being separated by alimited spacing that is uniform throughout the cell- 'ing structure anddefining an unobstructed rectangular system of tracks for bogeys, andoverhead means united to said frames and forming the sole means foruniting said frames in said pattern, and means supporting said unitedframes at an elevated horizontal position as a ceiling structureincorporating a system of suspension bogey tracks.

6. A ceiling structure, including a pattern of frames arranged inintersecting rows, said frames having side members disposed along twogroups of parallel lines, said side members having lower flanges alignedwith each other in a horizontal plane and having a uniform, limitedspacing between the confronting edges of said flanges so as to formintersecting bogey tracks, and structural connecting elements united tothe upper portions of said frames for securing said rows of frames inassembly as a unit, said connecting elements including a series ofparallel beams united to the upper portions of pairs of said sidemembers of adjacent rows of frames, and said beams constituting paralleltracks for lighting trucks that may be adjustably positioned on theceiling structure for operation through said frames.

7. A ceiling structure comprising a large number of identical individualframes of sheet-metal arranged in intersecting rows, each frame havinghorizontally aligned upper flanges and horizontally aligned lowerflanges and each side of each frame having a vertical opening-definingweb interconnecting the inner edges of an upper flange and a lowerflange so that each side of each frame comprises one of said upperflanges, one of said lower flanges and one of said webs interconnectingthe upper and lower flanges thereof, confronting flanges of adjacentframes being spaced apart by a limited separation uniform throughout theceiling and affording a passage for a suspension element, confrontingpairs of said webs constituting bogey guiding surfaces and the uppersurfaces of confronting lower flanges constituting load-bearing surfacesfor said bogeys, and means uniting said frames including parallelmutually separated beams joined to the upper flanges of confronting rowsof said frames.

8. Display apparatus, including a ceiling structure in accordance withclaim 7, a plurality of bogeys confined between confronting webs andbearing on confronting lower flanges, and a lighting truck guided bysaid beams and means for clamping said truck to said beams in anyadjusted location.

9. A ceiling structure, including a pattern of frames of uniform sizearranged in successive rows, the frames having side members disposed inalignment with each other along first and second groups of crossedparallel lines, said side members having flanges aligned with each otherin a common horizontal plane and said flanges having a uniform, limitedspacing between their confronting edges so as to form intersecting bogeytracks, and means connecting said frames into a unitary structure, saidconnecting means including successive beams extending along said firstgroup of parallel lines and united to the upper portions of only certainadjacent pairs of side members of adjacent frames, said beamsconstituting tracks for lighting trucks that may be adjustablypositioned on the ceiling structure for operation through said frames,said supporting means further including elongated structural membersextending along said second group of parallel lines, said structuralmembers being united to the upper portions of the side members ofsuccessive ones of those frames which have side members parallel to saidbeams but not secured thereto.

10. Apparatus for adjustably supporting depending objects, includingtracks having intersections, each track having mutually spacedconfronting upstanding walls and horizontal flanges closely spaced-apartand extending toward each from said walls and defining crossed passagesfor a bogey, and a bogey including a disc containing a downward-directedseries of at least six load-bearing balls, said disc having means forrotatably securing said balls therein with a portion of each ballprojecting downward from the lower face of the disc, said flanges beingin engagement with and constituting supporting surfaces for saiddownward projecting portions of said balls, and a load-bearing rodrotatably connected to said disc coaxial therewith and depending fromsaid disc through the space between said closely spaced-apart flanges,said disc being disposed between said confronting upstanding walls andhaving less clearance therefrom than the clearance between said rod andsaid flanges.

11. Apparatus for adjustably supporting depending objects, includingtracks having intersections, each track having portions providingmutually spaced confronting upstanding surfaces and having horizontalflanges closely spaced apart and collectively defining crossed passagesfor a bogey, and a bogey including a disc containing a series of atleast six load-bearing balls, said disc having means for rotatablysecuring said balls therein with a portion of each ball projectingdownward from the lower face of the disc, said flanges being inengagement with and constituting supporting surfaces for said downwardprojecting portions of said balls, and a load-bearing rod rotatablyconnected to said disc coaxial therewith and depending from said discthrough the space between said confronting edges of said flanges, saidbogey including an element having a vertical axis along said rod andbeing rotatable on said rod and engageable in rolling contact with saidupstanding surfaces of said tracks.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,034,714 8/ 12Kindleberger 272-24 1,424,502 8/22 McLendon et al 16-97 1,533,337 4/25Purdy et al 272-23 1,631,488 6/27 Jones 240-3 1,712,562 5/29 Jeffers16-91 1,889,112 11/32 Shoemaker 16-96 2,209,596 7/40 Brown 272-222,688,931 9/54 Spaflord 104-98 2,893,235 7/59 Goldberg 50-121 2,975,5123/61 SOmes 240-3 3,056,360 10/62 Burmeister et al 104-88 FOREIGN PATENTS753,056 7/33 France.

1946 3/00 Great Britain.

HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner.

BENJAMIN BENDETT, WILLIAM I. MUSHAKE,

Examiners.

1. DISPLAY APPARATUS INCLUDING A CEILING STRUCTURE AND MEANS FORADJUSTABLY SUSPENDING PANELS THEREFROM, SAID CEILING STRUCTURE INCLUDINGA RECTANGULAR MATRIX OF OPEN FRAMES EACH FRAME HAVING FOUR SIDES, EACHSAID SIDE INCLUDING A VERTICAL OPENING-FORMING WEB AND A HORIZONTALFLANGE THAT EXTENDS FROM THE LOWER EDGE OF THE WEB OUTWARD RELATIVE TOTHE FRAME OF WHICH IT IS A PART, THE FLANGES OF THE SIDES OF ALL SAIDFRAMES BEING COPLANAR AND EACH SAID FLANGE BEING SPACED FROM THECONFRONTING FLANGE OF A JUXTAPOSED SIDE OF THE ADJACENT FRAME IN THEMATRIX BY A LIMITED, UNIFORM SEPARATION, AND PANEL-SUPPORTING BOGEYSBETWEEN THE CONFRONTING WEBS OF THE JUXTAPOSED SIDES OF ADJACENT FRAMES,EACH BOGEY INCLUDING A SUSPENSION MEMBER EXTENDING THROUGH THE SPACEBETWEEN CONFRONTING FLANGES, VERTICAL-AXIS VERTICALLY SPACED DISCSROTATABLY SECURED TO SAID SUSPENSION MEMBER AND HAVING CIRCULAR EDGESADAPTED TO BEAR AGAINST THE CONFRONTING WEBS OF SAID FRAMES, THEJUXTAPOSED SIDES OF ADJACENT SUSPENSION MEMBER BEING COAXIAL WITH SAIDDISC, AND THE LOWERMOST DISC OF EACH BOGEY HAVING AT LEAST SIXSUPPORTING BALLS THAT BEAR ON THE UPPER SURFACES OF SAID FLANGES.